I'm an old tube guy and took a chance with a pair of these. After 50 hours they are outstanding in the Mini Torii. Huge soundstage, excellent detail and extension, 3D etc. I tried a lot of NOS in this amp but these are really special. There is some serious synergy here with all the 6V6's I have. Russian OA3's, EZ80's and Hytron OC2's complete the line up.

Glad to hear you're so happy with the Psvanes. Could you compare them with the Brimars in all those attributes? I know you like them better, evidently. But how far second are those Brimars, in your opinion? Again, this is a system-dependent issue and It may not reflect other people's conditions, but I'm curious.

Lord Soth, Grant has a super deal on a nice Shuguang 300B amp. For $799 delivered I am tempted. I've had 300B's before Psvane 300B's were around. In the amps I had the TJ perforated plate 300B's were very good. I actually preferred them to WE's.

Psvane small signal tubes: They are very good but still system and circuit dependent. Longevity? Time will tell. I bought mine from Grantbecause I did not want to risk getting sub par samples. They are certainly top tier new production tubes. Very nice mid range and extended top to bottom in the Mini. They took a good while to settle in and I think that is because they are run conservatively. The red jewelry box is amusing. ;D

Glad to hear you're so happy with the Psvanes. Could you compare them with the Brimars in all those attributes? I know you like them better, evidently. But how far second are those Brimars, in your opinion? Again, this is a system-dependent issue and It may not reflect other people's conditions, but I'm curious.

They are a bit more forgiving with lesser recordings than the Brimars and have a bit of warmth in the midrange. I use the treble cut more with the Brimars. Both are very good. Just different. At $22.90 a pair ya can't complain. 8-)

I've seen many posts elsewhere about these Pissvane tubes. I thought that many of them were posted by the makers to shill the reputation of these tubes.

Now after seeing your post, I have to face the possibility that at least this tube in that circuit works real well.

How much did these things cost? I have a problem with the way they are marketed and packaged, like jewelry.

I was skeptical too but, IMHO, they are worth the $99 shipped price. I think you may like them more than the Sylvania 12AT7's with the gold print. I got some after reading your posts. The first 12AT7's I tried in the Mini were Mullard 4024's from Upscale. Nice, but these are more open and extended. They do more things right than a lot of NOS and that is not an easy feat. I hope this helps.

Aside from the already peculiar wide range of non-substitute but acceptable output tube and voltage regulation alternatives in the Mini-Torii, don't you guys find it curious that it can also take as wide a range of input tubes as 6N1P, 12AU7, 12AT7, 12AX7 and even manages different spec rectifiers at the same time (i.e.,, EZ81, EZ80), when absolutely all such alternatives are definitely deemed as not substitutes in the valve literature? Amazing! I wonder what are the (if any) trade-offs involved.

Sounds like a cliché, but this really implies having the possibility to change your amp according to your mood, room conds, cables, ancillary equipment changes, etc.

The only constant here is the low-power/high sensitivity speakers' scheme. Everything else is modifiable. In fact, I bet the ZStage (great concept!) can even further enhance the already incredible family of possible scenarios in a truly significant way ... A true trigger for tube-holism and an endless source of creative interest!

And the music, Oh! the music ... such sounds. All of the above would not mean anything if the end result wasn't the enhanced enjoyment we all share from our music. Err.. you can tell I've been without my amp for long enough now

Yes, very impressive. It's too much for me though. I love the flexibility offered by my Torii Mk III, but don't need all the tube options and possible sound offered in the Mini-Torii. . . . Just makes me queezy thinking of missing out on a possible fantastic sounding combo just because I hadn't exhausted all possibilities. And I'd rather relax and listen to the music than spend all that time trying out all possible tube combinations.

I absolutely agree. But it does amaze me to consider all the possibilities involved, at least from a fine-tunning entertainment point of view. Instead of wondering about some upgrades here or there, a couple pair of tubes once in a while may bring some pepper to the listening experience, at very little risk.

The possibilities are so endless! Because "upgrades" can come in different forms from isolation and power changes, mastering choices of the software material, room treatment. . . even improving one's listening skills. All of which can lead you back to . . . speculating about tubes and rolling some. . . .;)

My late wife's brain spun with endless speculation and though it did bring her benefits, I also know she hardly ever relaxed, hardly ever just let input to her senses flow over and into her without analysis and in many ways. . . anguish. Being with her definitely influenced me and pulled me in that direction and I've made a conscious effort to keep a restraint, a limit on the extent if that makes sense. Sometimes tube-rolling pushes me in the direction I'm trying to avoid. Knowing myself, I'm glad I have the Torii in the main system and have pretty much ended my tube speculation for that component.

Listening to the system right now I say to myself "Sounds so good, don't mess with anything." Yeah, just days before my ZP3 will arrive, which I predict will be a game-changing component!

I love the flexibility offered by my Torii Mk III, but don't need all the tube options and possible sound offered in the Mini-Torii. . . . Just makes me queezy thinking of missing out on a possible fantastic sounding combo just because I hadn't exhausted all possibilities. And I'd rather relax and listen to the music than spend all that time trying out all possible tube combinations.

That is a sure trip to insanity. ;D Been there. Personally, I am just going to keep it simple. I got a pair of test NOS Tung Sol original 6V6's and the new issue sounds better to me. Before the amp arrived I got a pair of Pope 6V6's from Upscale Audio..nice but the new issue TS and Gold Lions sound better to me. I am done with power tubes unless a bargain pops up.

The Psvanes 12AT7's are the most $$$ small signal tubes I have ever bought but they were still cheaper than some NOS. I did not have any 12AT7's in my small collection so I had to try a few different ones but I am not going to try everything out there. The goal is enjoying music, not perpetual tube rolling. I am not pounding the table about the Psvanes. I'm just happy to see excellent new production small signal tubes.

Sure, Les, agreed. But, just imagine a relationship in which, once in a while, you want to add some spice into, by a change of scenery, a weekend out or something along those lines, just to break up the routine. You should never over do it, just enjoy the sporadic excitement of the change itself.

Rolling a tube or two every now and then is how this little amp can keep your interest forever, as opposed to be thinking in the newest amp models comig out all the time.

We should not get obsessed with it, but spicing things up now and then will help us all enjoy our hobby even more. I think this platform provides the perfect means to renew our relationship with it, indefinitely.

That's right, Lon. I also haven't gone to the moon yet, but I bet is a long journey there ... :)

Seriously, I understand your position. That's just fine. I'm not the least interested in rolling tubes per se, either, just to have some additional fun, now and then.

I'm saying once I've initially settled for a few working tube sets that I enjoy the most out of a fixed (very limited) initial number of alternatives, I think it would be nice to try a few additional tubes over time, just for the thrill of it.

I'd rather get more music new to me to listen to, in general, than futz with the tubes and general sound. I apparently can't get enough. .. I keep finding more. Just bought another batch of great 3 dollar jazz lps from one of my jazz bulletin board pals.

But we're all different. Than again, you may find that you don't roll tubes much, my earlier point is. . . you don't know yet exactly how you're going to react to rolling tubes, and there other ways to alter the signature too to play with.

I received a pair of the Psvane MKII 12AT7's today. It is a new and improved tube...so says Psvane. I just plugged them in they sound very good. I got 'em on fleabay from seller Salience. They were sent USPS from China and they arrived in about ten days. Price was $79 shipped for the pair. More after they settle in...but I can tell they are keepers.

The pair I got from Grant were sent registered mail. These were just in the mail box when I got home. I have sent items to Italy and their postal system is a mess. Maybe Panama takes lessons from Italy?

I have only seen these MKII tubes on fleabay.

Hope that box gets to you soon. I can request a trace after 30 days. The PO will figure it out but I am sure the issue is on your end.

I agree, Les. I was afraid of this since the beginning. I just sent you an email with some alternatives.

As a side note, I lived several years in Italy and never confronted this problem, and I really used the mail over there. Difference is night and day. It may not have the same standards as in the US, but at least in my experience the postal service was reliable. The only risks there were strike-related delays (unfortunately, these may be pretty common).

The MKII Psvanes are quite good too. I have a good selection of NOS, which I will still use occasionally, but these are indeed excellent and all around better, top to bottom, than anything I have tried in the Mini.

I have not really compared them to the older ones but me likes 'em both. ;D

On a side note, I read from the Torii MKIII notes that the 6N1P-Ev that I have in the Mini Torii is 'warmish' compared to an equivalent 6922, which is also 'faster.' Since the latter are also quite cheap (russian), they may be of help in my case, I wonder.

Of course, the ideal would be the Psvanes due to their better sonic attributes.